Nagel marks third generation to win Penn Can

Mike Nagel Jr. of Susquehanna became a third generation modified winner at Penn Can Speedway joining his father Mike and grandfather Carl who both have many wins at the speedway.

Hel held off the late charge of Dan Pompey to secure the win in front of a happy hometown crowd.

Butch Green came home the winner in the 602 sportsman event with Steven Deinhardt winning for the third week in a row in the street stocks. Mark Andrus claimed both of the twin 12-lap races for the factory stocks. Justin Dimorier was a first time winner in the Xcel mods with Kenny Underwood winning in the four cylinders.

Brian Malcolm led the modified field to Jeff Wayman’s green flag and took the early lead. Outside pole sitter, Nagel made an outside pass on lap two to take command of the 30-lap feature. The first of only three cautions came out on lap seven for the disable race car of Mike Marold Jr.
Marold fired the car and resumed the race with Nagel leading Malcolm, Joey Colsten, Grant Hilfiger, and Pompey.

The multi-grooved surface provided plenty of racing room with the cars of Steve Babicek, Adam MacGeorge, and Joey Grammes all working their way to the front. As the cars crossed under the halfway flags Nagel continued to lead over Hilfiger, Colsten, Pompey and Malcolm. Other cars making their way into the top ten included Bob Hamm, Babicek, Mike Schane, and Alan Rudalavage.

The second caution of the event came with cars slowing on the track. Nagel continued in the top spot with Hilfiger and Pompey in tow. When the green came back Hilfiger went to the high groove with Pompey on the bottom both looking to get by Nagel. With high speed action all through the pack Nagel did a masterful job holding off the determined drives of both Pompey and Hilfiger.

As the checker flag flew, the elated hometown crowd went wild celebrating the third generation driver’s first ever mofified victory.

Pompey, Hilfiger Colsten, and MacGeorge rounded out the top five. Point leader Kevin Hartnett struggled early but used a strong charge the last seven laps to claim the seventh spot.

“Our racing luck has not been the best in recent weeks so this win is really a boost for our team. We have been down the last few weeks and it feels so good to get this first win in the modifieds,” explained Nagel in Victory Lane.

Dusty Barton took an early lead in the 602 sportsman feature. Grant Hilfiger was his first challenger and wrestled the lead away on lap three of the 20-lap event. With Hilfiger leading, point leader Butch Green pulled up to challenge. The two drivers raced side by side through the middle portions of the event until Green powered to the inside and took control.
With Green leading, Hilfiger, Barton, and Alex Stanton set chase. A late race caution made it a one lap dash for the win. Green held strong coming home in front of Hilfiger, Stanton, Barton, and Ryan Olsommer.

The street stock feature was another exciting 20-lap affair. Rick Davis took off from his pole position and would lead the first six laps before being overtaken by three time feature winner Steven Deinhardt. Deinhardt’s streak would continue as he would hold off Jon Carpenter, Shane Wolf Jr, and newcomer Doug Stack for the victory.

In the 20-lap Xcel 600 feature Justin Dimorier held strong in a very hard fought battle with Nick Cinquati and Scott Adams for his first Penn Can win of the season.

In the twin 12-lap features for the factory stocks, Mark Andrus came home the winner of both events. Kenny Underwood kept his win streak going with a victory in the four cylinder division.

PENN NOTES: Unexpected rain showers moved into the area as the first feature of the night was called to the line. With only a few drops falling, the track staff hustled the show along getting all of the features competed before the heavy rain fell. Next Friday the 602 sportsman take center stage with the second NEP Wireless sponsored event paying $1,000 to win.
Modified Feature: Mike Nagel Jr., Dan Pompey, Grant Hilfiger, Joey Colsten, Adam MacGeorge, Mike Schane, Kevin Hartnett, Al Rudalavage, Bob Trapper, Steve Babicek, Bobby Trapper, Billy Thornton, Mike Nagel, Ken Titus, Mike Marold Jr, John Siedlecky, Joey Grammes, Brian Malcolm, Bob Hamm, Christine Martin, George Kostelansky.